OUR CORRESPONDENT LEONE LAKHANI HAS MORE. [IMAM CALL TO PRAYER] LEONE: THIS LONE IMAM STANDS IN AN EMPTY PRAYER HALL, SIGNALING THE END OF THE FASTING DAY HIS FOLLOWERS TUNE IN ONLINE. MOSQUES LIKE ADAMS, THE SECOND LARGEST IN THE COUNTRY, CLOSED ITS DOORS, BUT PROVIDES SERVICES LIKE DAILY PRAYERS AND TALKS REMOTELY. A REMOTE RAMADAN IS THE ONLY TYPE MIGUEL PERDOMO HAS KNOWN. THIS IS HIS FIRST, HAVING JUST CONVERTED TO ISLAM IN NOVEMBER. MIGUEL: TO PREPARE, I ACTUALLY I STARTED FASTING REALLY, REALLY ACTUALLY IN NOVEMBER, I WAS ALREADY FASTING. WHEN I REALIZED I WAS GOING TO EXPERIENCE RAMADAN THROUGH THE LOCKDOWN WAS PROBABLY, YOU KNOW, LESS THAN A MONTH BEFORE RAMADAN, AND THAT’S WHEN IT REALLY HIT, YOU KNOW. LEONE: MIGUEL SAYS IT’S GOING SMOOTHLY SO FAR. HE’S PART OF AN ONLINE GROUP WITH FRIENDS ALL OVER THE WORLD, EVEN BREAKING FAST OVER THE INTERNET. SO TELL ME THE TYPE OF THINGS YOU’RE DOING. MIGUEL: WE GET UP LIKE 4:00 A.M. FIRST. BEFORE WE EAT, WE PRAY, AND THEN WE GET ONLINE. TO BE ABLE TO BREAK FAST WITH PEOPLE AT THE SAME TIME ONLINE, IT JUST CREATES THIS COMMUNITY AND THIS BOND. LEONE: OTHER COMMUNITIES ARE FINDING NEW PURPOSES. THIS CENTER IS CLOSED FOR COMMUNAL PRAYERS, SO IT’S USING THE PRAYER HALL TO STORE FOOD. CHARITY AND FEEDING THE NEEDY ARE IMPORTANT COMPONENTS OF RAMADAN, SO VOLUNTEERS ARE DOING THESE CURBSIDE FOOD GIVEAWAY IT’S ONE OF THE FEW NONVIRTUAL THINGS YOU WILL SEE THIS YEAR, BUT WITH LOTS OF PRECAUTIONS. MASKED VOLUNTEERS PREP THE FOOD, THEN PUT IT IN THE TRUNKS MAINTAIN SAFE DISTANCES. SO, DESPITE THE RESTRICTIONS O AN UNUSUAL YEAR WITH UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES, MUSLIMS HERE ARE ENSURING THE SPIRIT OF RAMADAN PERS

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The New Ways Muslims Are Celebrating Ramadan During COVID-19

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Updated: 8:58 AM CDT May 16, 2020

Ramadan is usually one of the most social months for Muslims. But due to the coronavirus pandemic, traditional celebrations have had to change. Matter of Fact Correspondent Leone Lakhani shows us how a time meant for reflection, spiritual discipline, and social gatherings looks different during the COVID crisis.

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Ramadan is usually one of the most social months for Muslims. But due to the coronavirus pandemic, traditional celebrations have had to change. Matter of Fact Correspondent Leone Lakhani shows us how a time meant for reflection, spiritual discipline, and social gatherings looks different during the COVID crisis.